Nashville-Davidson, TN and Cleveland, OH are two very different cities with unique characteristics and appeal. Nashville-Davidson, often referred to simply as Nashville, is a booming city known for its music industry influence, whereas Cleveland is a classic midwestern city with a strong sports culture. Both cities offer a rich cultural experience, diverse neighborhoods, and myriad employment opportunities. However, weather, cost of living, and taxes are just some of the aspects in which these two cities significantly differ.
Distance between
Nashville-Davidson, TN and
Cleveland, OH : 458.7 miles
Nashville-Davidson's population is larger by 85%. Its population has grown by 133,327 people (24.4%) since 2000. The population of Cleveland has decreased by 110,412 people (23.1%) during that time.
Both Nashville-Davidson and Cleveland have crime rates higher than the national average, although Cleveland's is significantly higher overall. Nashville's crime rate has been falling in recent years, and this is something to consider for those looking to relocate. For tourists, it is more about personal awareness and staying in safe areas, which both cities have aplenty.
Cost of Living
The cost of living is higher in Nashville-Davidson than in Cleveland. This includes factors like housing, groceries, transportation, health care, and utilities. On the other hand, Cleveland offers more affordable living, with housing costs that are significantly lower than the national average.
Income Tax
Tennessee does not have a state income tax, which can be beneficial to those with high incomes. Ohio, on the other hand, has a state income tax with rates ranging from 0% to 4.8% depending on income level.
Property Tax
Property taxes in Nashville-Davidson are reasonably low compared to the national average. In contrast, Cleveland has one of the highest property tax rates in Ohio.
Sales Tax
Tennessee has a high sales tax rate at 9.55%, which is higher than Ohio’s state and local sales tax rate that averages around 7.2%.
Income
Type
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Estimated median household income
$64,857
$35,562
Estimated per capita income
$42,268
$24,093
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
90.9
94.3
If you make $50,000 in Nashville-Davidson, you will have to make $51,870 in Cleveland to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Nashville-Davidson is located in the southeastern U.S., with a landscape characterized mostly by rolling hills. Cleveland, located on the southern shore of Lake Erie, has a mix of urban infrastructure and green spaces.
Both cities have great educational institutions. Nashville-Davidson is home to esteemed universities like Vanderbilt, while Cleveland houses Case Western Reserve University. Public school systems in both cities have room for improvement but are investing in education reforms and initiatives.
Nashville-Davidson has a thriving economy with strong job market. The city is a hub for the healthcare, music, and tourism industries. Cleveland's economy is diversified with healthcare, manufacturing, and education being the largest sectors. Both cities have numerous opportunities for professionals, but the job growth rate in Nashville is higher.
Biggest Employers
In Nashville-Davidson, some of the biggest employers are Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nissan North America, and HCA Holdings Inc. In Cleveland, the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, and Progressive Insurance are among the largest employers.
There were 3,932 building permits issued in Nashville-Davidson in 2012 (2854 more than in 2011) compared to 104 building permits issued in Cleveland in 2012 (18 more than in 2011).
In Nashville-Davidson (Davidson County), 58.5% voted for Democrats and 39.9% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Cleveland (Cuyahoga County), 69.7% voted for Democrats and 29.7% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
2020
65.0%
66.5%
32.6%
32.4%
2.3%
1.1%
2016
60.1%
65.5%
34.1%
30.3%
5.7%
4.1%
2012
58.5%
69.7%
39.9%
29.7%
1.6%
0.5%
2008
60.0%
69.1%
39.0%
30.1%
1.0%
0.8%
2004
54.9%
66.6%
44.6%
32.9%
0.4%
0.5%
2000
57.9%
62.9%
40.4%
33.6%
1.7%
3.5%
1996
79.3%
60.8%
18.1%
29.1%
2.6%
10.1%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
14.1%
0.4%
19.6%
3.0%
CATHOLIC CHURCH
4.9%
28.6%
2.3%
11.3%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1.5%
0.6%
1.8%
2.2%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
1.1%
0.4%
1.7%
1.6%
COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH
1.0%
0.1%
0.5%
0.1%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
0.8%
0.3%
1.4%
1.4%
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.8%
0.0%
0.9%
0.1%
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
0.4%
0.0%
1.3%
0.0%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.3%
1.4%
0.9%
4.0%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.2%
1.1%
0.8%
3.9%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
0.1%
1.6%
0.3%
3.2%
Weather
Nashville-Davidson has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters, while Cleveland experiences a humid continental climate characterized by hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. For those who prefer milder weather conditions, Nashville-Davidson would be a better choice. Tourists might find Nashville’s longer outdoor season more attractive.
Weather and climate
Type
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Temperature - Average
58.5°F
50.1°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
75.9%
75.8%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
38%
27%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
89%
83%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
51%
56%
Precipitation - Yearly average
49 in
38.5 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
17.8 in
115.9 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
17.1%
11.2%
Sunshine amount - Average
59.7%
51.8%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
23%
44%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
65%
66%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
42%
22%
Wind speed - Average
7.7 mph
10.4 mph
Average climate in Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee
Average climate in Cleveland, Ohio
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Nashville-Davidson
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
2018
71
85
0.40
0.26
13.8
11.3
24.1
26.9
N/A
N/A
15.2
22.7
9.2
9.3
0.2
0.6
2017
70
82
0.38
0.27
14.4
11.4
26.8
27.6
N/A
N/A
15.3
23.2
8.7
8.2
0.1
0.5
2016
90
81
0.42
0.27
16.1
11.1
26.4
27.1
N/A
N/A
N/A
23.4
10.1
9.9
0.0
1.0
2015
68
76
0.43
0.27
15.5
12.9
23.6
25.1
N/A
N/A
N/A
31.5
10.8
8.0
0.1
1.9
2014
66
83
N/A
0.25
N/A
12.3
26.3
23.7
N/A
N/A
N/A
28.4
9.8
10.6
1.4
1.7
2013
62
88
N/A
0.24
N/A
12.9
N/A
23.8
N/A
N/A
N/A
27.3
9.7
12.0
N/A
1.9
2012
81
119
N/A
0.28
N/A
13.7
28.3
26.5
N/A
N/A
N/A
32.0
11.0
15.2
2.3
2.5
2011
81
110
N/A
0.29
N/A
15.3
25.9
25.8
N/A
N/A
N/A
29.7
11.0
16.1
1.7
3.4
2010
80
113
N/A
0.35
N/A
15.8
24.3
27.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
24.2
12.2
18.7
2.2
3.6
2009
72
67
N/A
0.37
N/A
17.1
22.5
26.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
21.5
11.5
N/A
2.4
3.7
2008
81
87
N/A
0.29
N/A
15.2
25.7
32.9
N/A
N/A
N/A
27.1
13.4
N/A
2.5
4.2
2007
99
94
N/A
0.29
N/A
18.1
27.4
32.9
N/A
N/A
N/A
30.3
15.5
N/A
2.7
5.2
2006
93
75
0.69
0.25
N/A
16.2
24.9
27.7
N/A
N/A
N/A
27.3
14.9
N/A
2.9
5.0
2005
104
98
0.56
0.27
N/A
19.2
23.5
28.6
N/A
N/A
N/A
31.7
16.9
N/A
3.1
5.7
2004
83
77
0.61
0.47
N/A
19.5
22.0
20.1
0.006
N/A
N/A
29.2
N/A
N/A
2.6
3.8
2003
93
81
0.67
0.49
N/A
19.6
18.5
25.8
0.005
N/A
N/A
28.3
15.8
N/A
3.8
5.7
2002
92
95
0.67
0.40
N/A
19.8
20.2
28.6
N/A
N/A
N/A
32.5
15.3
N/A
4.3
5.1
2001
95
91
0.89
0.43
N/A
21.1
19.5
28.4
N/A
N/A
N/A
35.9
15.6
N/A
4.5
5.9
2000
97
79
0.74
0.48
N/A
20.5
19.8
25.2
N/A
N/A
N/A
35.9
N/A
N/A
4.1
5.8
Natural disasters
Type
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
169.1%
93%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
296.1%
50.2%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
17%
16%
Transportation
Nashville-Davidson's public transport system includes buses and commuter trains, while Cleveland has buses, trains, and trolleys. Both cities have accessible airports for travel. Commute times tend to be somewhat shorter in Nashville due to its less dense population.
Transport
Type
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Amtrak stations
0
1
Amtrak stations nearby
1
1
FAA registered aircraft
0
307
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
0
19
Means of transportation to work
Type
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Bicycle
0.3%
0.2%
Bus
1.2%
3.5%
Carpooled
9.8%
7.7%
Car alone
85.5%
83.1%
Railroad
0%
0.1%
Streetcar
0%
0.4%
Taxicab
0.1%
0.1%
Walked
1.8%
3.9%
Average travel time to work
Type
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Average
31.3 min
28.9 min
Other means
23.4 min
23.2 min
Public transportation
38.9 min
42.9 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Average
1.2
1.2
Drove alone
88.7%
87.9%
In 2 person carpool
8.5%
10.3%
In 3 person carpool
1.6%
1%
In 4 person carpool
0.7%
0.4%
In 5-6 person carpool
0.5%
0.1%
In 7+ person carpool
0%
0.3%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Nashville’s real-estate market is more expensive, with home prices above the national average. However, it's also seeing significant growth in property value. Cleveland’s housing market is more affordable, but appreciation rates aren't as high.
Neighborhoods
Both cities boast diverse neighborhoods. Downtown Nashville and East Nashville are popular for their vibrant music scene and eateries. In Cleveland, neighborhoods like Ohio City and Tremont are known for their historic charm and food scene.
Houses and residents
Type
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
Houses
331,262
202,735
Average household size (people)
2.3
2.3
Median year apartment built
1986
1946
Length of stay in the house since moving in
12.2 years
17.5 years
Houses occupied
305,247 (92.1%)
171,321 (84.5%)
Houses occupied by owners
162,426 (53.2%)
67,039 (39.1%)
Houses occupied by renters
142,821 (46.8%)
104,282 (60.9%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,391
$1,284
Median monthly housing costs
$1,291
$754
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$221,129
$86,306
Estimated median house or condo value
$346,700
$83,400
Median numbers of rooms
5.2
5.2
Median number of rooms in apartments
4.2
4.4
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.3
6.3
Median house price - detached houses
$437,686
$104,861
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$320,904
$81,957
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$319,119
$250,787
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$305,249
$156,467
Median house price - mobile homes
$133,346
$40,340
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$328,258
$125,938
Median house price - All housing units
$412,434
$105,403
Median house age
35
80
Renting percentage
44.6%
55.9%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
699.9
2,613.2
House value disparities
31%
41.6%
Household income disparities
45.4%
48.5%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$93,092
$61,885
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$68,871
$42,551
Housing units without a mortgage
3,189 (2.8%)
2,325 (6.3%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
10,988 (9.6%)
2,348 (6.4%)
Housing units with a mortgage
110,850 (97.2%)
34,401 (93.7%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
333 (0.3%)
166 (0.5%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
13,192 (11.6%)
3,335 (9.1%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
9
19
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
1
3
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.3%
8.8%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
0.5%
5.1%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
One, detached
50.9%
48.7%
One, attached
8.4%
5.6%
Two
3.3%
14.7%
3 or 4
3.1%
5.2%
5 to 9
7.1%
5.0%
10 to 19
8.7%
3.8%
20 to 49
5.3%
3.3%
50 or more
11.9%
13.1%
Mobile homes
1.2%
0.4%
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.
0.1%
0.1%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
31,952
7,246
State government workers
15,693
2,212
Unpaid family workers
463
328
Industries and Occupations
Nashville-Davidson is known for its healthcare and music industries. On the other hand, Cleveland is a manufacturing city that has diversified into healthcare and education. Both cities provide a wide range of occupational opportunities.
Healthcare is a strong sector in both cities. Nashville-Davidson is home to top-notch healthcare facilities like Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Cleveland is known worldwide for the Cleveland Clinic, one of the best hospitals in the country.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Nashville-Davidson boasts modern infrastructure with investment in public spaces and transportation. Cleveland, while having a solid infrastructure, is seeing improvements and redevelopment in several areas. Both cities are working on bettering their infrastructure for future growth.
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
Nashville-Davidson
Cleveland
1999
2,397
1,871
2000
1,451
2,587
2001
1,130
2,077
2002
1,075
1,561
2003
2,231
1,242
2004
2,731
1,561
2005
3,231
3,297
2006
3,720
3,951
2007
2,419
2,211
2008
952
482
2009
532
184
Culture and Food
Nashville-Davidson is renowned for its vibrant music scene and southern cuisine. It's often dubbed the “Music City” due to its rich music history. Cleveland has a rich arts scene with world-class institutions like the Cleveland Museum of Art and Cleveland Orchestra. It's also known for its food scene with a focus on hearty midwestern fare.
Sports Teams
Sports fans will find plenty to cheer for in both cities. Nashville has the Tennessee Titans (NFL), Nashville Predators (NHL), and Nashville SC (MLS). In Cleveland, sports lovers can cheer on the Cleveland Browns (NFL), Cleveland Indians (MLB), and Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA).
Nashville-Davidson, TN and 
Cleveland, OH : 458.7 miles
Nashville-Davidson, TN and 
Cleveland, OH : 458.7 miles
